By Rajni Bansal 
Video interviews are becoming mainstream, and why not? As an HR manager, you would want your hiring team to close the open roles faster. You would buy premium subscriptions of ATS, sourcing platforms, Job boards, and whatnot. You receive hundreds of applicants for your job posting. But still, as per the Josh Bersin Company report,
“The average time-to-hire has risen to 44 days, with interview delays being a top contributor.”
So, where’s the problem? What’s delaying interviewing those hundreds of applicants? How many recruiters would you hire to fill that gap? Wouldn’t it be hiring people to hire while even existing open roles are not filled yet?
Consequently, your recruiters work under pressure to move faster without compromising the hires’ quality or experience. On the flip side, companies using smart video interview software process every application with the same hiring team.
How do video interviews help accelerate recruitment? And what is the difference between live and asynchronous AI video interviews? We will explore everything about these video interview formats so you can choose the right one!
What Is a Live Video Interview?
A live video interview is what you or your hiring team conducts via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet. It’s more like a digital version of a face-to-face meeting, happening in real time. Since it’s a virtual one-on-one interview, recruiters can ask follow-up questions spontaneously. Candidates can also seek clarity instantly.
However, you always need a hiring manager or recruiter to conduct live video interviews with candidates. Hence, when open positions and applications rise, you cannot scale video interviews. Scheduling becomes a bottleneck. Time zones may cause friction.
And your recruiters feel burned out after spending hours taking live interviews when no one could crack it. That’s why many HR leaders now use live video interviews selectively and shift high-volume or early-stage assessments to asynchronous formats.
What Is an Asynchronous Video Interview?
An asynchronous video interview is a smart way to interview where you pre-set interview questions and candidates record their responses respectively. Asynchronous means your hiring team and the candidate don’t need to be online at the same time for live video interviews.
Basically, you receive recorded videos of applicants responding to questions your team prepared, but they don’t need to ask them in real-time. Moreover, there would be no schedule overlaps or applicant overflow problems, as the asynchronous video interview occurs without human intervention.
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Asynchronous Video Interviews Powered by AI to Offer Human-like Interview Experience
Not everyone loves vlogging, do they? So, recording interviews for candidates sometimes feels like talking to a wall. Hence, taking it even further, AI video interview platforms like Hirin.ai and Interview.ai are making strides. These tools come with Artificial Intelligence to optimize the asynchronous video interview experience for your team and candidates.
For example, with Hirin’s AI video interview tool, you can generate or add custom interview questions. The software itself sends invitations to shortlisted candidates, allowing them to schedule a video interview at their convenience. When the candidate joins, Hirin’s AI recruiter conducts the video interview, asking questions you selected for the role. And, once the interview is over, you receive detailed insights into the candidate’s performance and suitability to help you make informed hiring decisions.
The fun fact is that asynchronous AI video interviews reduce time to hire by up to 50% in high-volume environments. Here’s what makes an asynchronous video interview powerful:
- Built-in automation
- AI scoring based on voice tone, content, and delivery
- Consistent experience for every applicant
It’s not just a tech hack, but a structural shift. And how you interview signals, how you hire.
Explore 15+ AI video interview platforms offering video interview automation!
Live vs. Recorded AI Interviews: What’s the Real Difference?
Live interviews offer dynamic engagement. Asynchronous ones scale faster and reduce scheduling friction. Each comes with trade-offs in candidate perception, brand experience, and legal risk.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
| Feature | Live AI Interview | Recorded AI Interview |
| Format | Real-time | On-demand |
| Interaction | Two-way | One-way |
| Scheduling Hassle | Yes | No |
| Scalability | Low | High |
| Use Case | Final rounds, niche roles | Screening, volume hiring |
| AI Involvement | Supportive (e.g., notes) | Primary (scoring, filtering, reporting) |
| Candidate Experience | Personal | Flexible |
| Recruiter Time Required | High | Low |
When Should You Use a Live Video Interview?
Use live video interviews when the stakes are high.
You’re hiring for team leaders who will represent your brand and make strategic decisions.
C-suite, product heads, senior managers, client-facing leads.These roles demand more than resumes. They need real-time conversations to reveal how someone thinks, speaks, and adapts.
For example: Hiring a VP of Sales? A live interview allows you to observe how they handle pressure, pitch ideas, and establish trust.
Use live interviews as your validation layer—not the first filter. By that stage, you should already know they check the boxes. Now you check the intangibles.
When Are Asynchronous Video Interviews More Effective?
Use asynchronous video interviews when speed and scale matter.
You’re screening hundreds. You don’t have time to talk to every candidate.
This method works best for:
- Entry-level roles
- Volume hiring (e.g., customer support, tele sales)
- Early-stage screening across time zones
You set the questions. Candidates respond on their own time. AI-driven video interview tools, like Hirin.ai, let you review or auto-score responses quickly.
For example: Hiring 150 support agents? Send 3 questions on situational handling and product pitch. Let AI flag the top 25. You only review the best.
Structure your video questions like micro-scenarios. “How would you handle an irate customer demanding a refund?” This reveals thinking patterns without needing a live call.
How to Decide Between Live and Asynchronous Interviews?
Ask yourself these three questions:
- Does the role require leadership, judgment, or real-time agility?
→ Go live. - Is volume your biggest challenge—too many resumes, too little time?
→ Go async. - Do you need to cut scheduling chaos from your hiring funnel?
→ Automate first, personalize later.
Think of it as a filter. Use asynchronous tools to shortlist with structure. Use live interviews to close with confidence.
Smart recruiters combine formats—”automation upfront; personalization where it counts.”
Ready to Upgrade Your Hiring Process?
Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet popularized video interviews. However, AI video interview platforms are transforming the way we conduct interviews now. Interview automation saves hours per hire, as you can interview as many applicants as you receive in one go.
Candidates don’t have to wait for their turn to be interviewed. You can automate feedback and improve decisions based on real data. Overall, the efficiency of your recruitment team increases with candidate satisfaction.
So, what kind of video interview format does your organization use?
Struggling to screen growing candidate volume?
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